GEORGE BROWNE

I exhort you all, that ye deface the said Bishop of Rome [the Pope] in all your books where he is named pope, and that ye shall have from henceforth no trust in him, nor in his bulls [pronouncements] or pardons, which beforetime, with his juggling, casts of binding and loosings, he sold you for your money … and also that ye fear not his great thunder claps of excommunication, for they cannot hurt you.

A bird may be taught to speak with as much sense as many of the clergy do in this country. These, though not scholars, yet are crafty to cozen the poor common people and to dissuade them from following his highness orders. The country folk here much hate your lordship, and despitefully call you, in their Irish tongue, the Blacksmith's Son. As a friend, I desire your lordship to look well to your noble person.

His highness' viceroy of this nation is of little or no power with the old natives. Now both English and Irish begin to oppose your lordship's orders, and to lay aside their national quarrels

His highness' viceroy of this nation is of little or no power with the old natives. Now both English and Irish begin to oppose your lordship's orders, and to lay aside their national quarrels

A bird may be taught to speak with as much sense as many of the clergy do in this country. These, though not scholars, yet are crafty to cozen the poor common people and to dissuade them from following his highness orders. The country folk here much hate your lordship, and despitefully call you, in their Irish tongue, the Blacksmith's Son. As a friend, I desire your lordship to look well to your noble person.

I exhort you all, that ye deface the said Bishop of Rome [the Pope] in all your books where he is named pope, and that ye shall have from henceforth no trust in him, nor in his bulls [pronouncements] or pardons, which beforetime, with his juggling, casts of binding and loosings, he sold you for your money … and also that ye fear not his great thunder claps of excommunication, for they cannot hurt you.